Combination floor outlet box and floor plate extension



Aug. 12, 1958 H. E. voss 2,847,140

COMBINATION FLOOR OUTLET BOX AND FLOOR PLATE EXTENSION Filed March 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 D p QQ LL ff? 3 o X N INVENTOR. /0 Hanan: E. V055 Aug. 12, 1958 H. E. voss 2,847,140

COMBINATION FLOOR OUTLET BOX AND FLOOR PLATE EXTENSION Filed March 5,- 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvron. Hzwua E. V055 COZMBENATIONE' AND FLOOR PLATE EXTENSION Harold EIVoss, McHenry, Ill. .Application March 1956,Serial'No. 5.699420 "BCliiir'iis. (Cl. 220- 33) My invention relates to improvements in floor outlet box construction.

My invention relates to floor outlet boxes used for telephone, signal, light and power outlets, and more particularly to the provision of a floor plate extension therefor when, at a later date, carpeting or other floor covering is applied to the floor and accommodation must be made for a raised floor plate to bring the same over the level of the applied floor covering.

The usual floor boxes which are installed at the time the circuits are installed are so arranged that when the cover plate is applied thereto, the same is level or flush with the top of the floor of the room. In this condition the close-up plug of the cap may be removed and electrically operated appliances connected to the usual socket provided. However, when carpeting or other floor covering is later placed on the floor, openings must be provided therein for access to the floor outlet box plugs. A hole must be cut in the carpeting, and unless protected in some way the edges will soon become frayed and unsightly and the outlet box location will present a very unsatisfactory appearance.

To overcome the above and other objections, I have provided a floor plate extension which will have the function of grasping and holding the edge of the carpeting or other floor covering around the outlet box opening in addition to raising the exposed cover plate and close-up cap or plug above the surface of the added floor covering.

The objects and advantages of my improved construction will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, upon which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a carpeted floor showing the floor box and floor plate extension in place, a fragment of the cover plate portion of the floor plate being broken into section to more clearly show other parts;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the floor plate extension shown without the cap or close-up plug in place;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the floor plate extension, a portion thereof being broken into section; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate and describe the same, I have shown the usual type of floor box which is mounted in any suitable manner in the floor 12, with the cover plate 14 flush with the top surface of the floor. The cover plate is fastened in place over the floor box 10 by means of a plurality of screw members 16 which extend through the same and through a circular gasket 18 into suitable tapped. openings 20 in the top flange of the floor box 10.

The floor box is usually provided with an electrical receptacle 22 which has its top end flush with the bottom of the cover plate 14.

When floor covering such as the pad 24 and carpet 26 United States nt" 2,847,140 Patented Aug. 12, 1958 "ice theffioor box through anjopeningwhi'ch must be cut 'into' the carpet and: pad, it is obvious'that" an unsightly appearance wouldre'sult' at "the location of the' floor'box 1 box outlet.

"In order'to overcome this iobje'ction both in. appearmice and'lin usefIihave providedtheifloor plate extension 32 whichmay'comp'rise a circular plate portion 34 generally'of'the same size asthecover plate 14 of the fiooroutlet box. The extension also'.has a downwardly depending shank portion 36 which' has an exteriorly threaded portion 38 adapted to screw-threadedly engage in the tapped opening 30 of the cover plate 14.

The shank 36 also has a bore 40 terminating in a shoulder 42 to receive a gasket 44. Above the same I provide a tapped center opening 46 to receive the screw-in cap 48 which in the original instance was mounted in the cover plate 14 in the tapped opening 30.

In use, the floor plate extension is screwed down into the tapped opening 30 to compress the peripheral edge of the carpet and pad around the opening that has been cut in the same for access to the floor outlet box. In order to more securely hold the peripheral edge of the opening against movement, I have provided concentric downwardly depending ridges 50 in the bottom wall of the floor plate extension member, the ridges compressing the carpet and pad still further at these points so that the same are firmly held about the periphery of the opening that has been placed in the same.

With the above construction, it can be seen that when carpeting is placed upon a floor in which outlet boxes are located, it is a simple matter to remove the close-up cap which has previously been in the cover plate 14, then attach the floor plate extension, and place the same close-\up cap in the opening provided therefor in the floor plate extension. In addition, the carpeting or other floor covering is securely held in the vicinity of the opening which has been cut in the same, and the use of the extension serves both to hold the floor covering in place and to provide a neat appearance at the installation.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to limit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a floor outlet box of the type having a flat top plate, said plate having a tapped opening for a flat screw-threaded close-up cap, of a floor plate extension, said floor plate extension having a flat cover plate and a medially disposed tubular exteriorly threaded downwardly depending shank portion of the same diameter as the tapped opening in said top plate, said shank portion adapted for engagement with said tapped opening, said cover plate having a tapped opening in the face thereof for reception of the close-up cap of the floor outlet box, said extension capable of attachment to the floor outlet box to compress a floor covering between the top plate of the floor outlet box and the cover plate of the extension.

2. The combination with a floor outlet box of the type having a flat top plate, said plate having a tapped opening for a flat screw-threaded close-up cap, of a floor plate extension, said .floor plate extension having a flat cover plate and a medially disposed tubular exteriorly threaded downwardly depending shank portion of the same diameter as the tapped opening in said top plate, said shank portion adapted for engagement with said tapped opening, said cover plate having a tapped opening in the face thereof for reception of the close-up cap of the floor outlet box, said extension capable of attachment to the floor outlet box to compress a floor covering between the top plate of the floor outlet box and the cover plate of the extension, the diameters of the top plate of the outlet box and the floor plate being the same.

3. The combination with a floor outlet box of the type having a flat top plate, said plate having a tapped opening for a flat screw-threaded close-up cap, of a floor plate extension, said floor plate extension having a flat cover plate and a medially disposed tubular exteriorly threaded downwardly depending shank portion of the same diameter as the tapped opening in said top plate, said shank portion adapted for engagement with said tapped opening, said cover plate having a tapped opening in the face thereof for reception of the close-up cap of the floor outlet box, said extension capable of attach- I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 739,557 Pendergast Sept. 22, 1903 826,097 Frantzen et a1. July 17, 1906 910,261 Ames et a1. Jan. 19, 1909 1,185,846 Simpson June 6, 1916 1,949,883 Sharp Mar. 6, 1934 

